ZombieRoboNinja
First Post
I know I'm late to the game on this one, but man, gotta love that new Thug Rogue Sneak Attack option.
[quote="Classes" Playtest Document]
Thug Tactics: ... You have an additional way to deal Sneak Attack damage to a creature, besides having advantage against it; you can deal Sneak Attack damage to a target that is within the reach of two or more creatures that are friendly to you.
[/quote]
Mechanically, you can see how they got here. They want to allow for a rogue that relies on positioning and teamwork rather than hiding to get in his high-damage attacks. But 3e-style flanking with one ally lets you Sneak Attack almost every round (until the tank dies, at which point you've got other problems on your mind anyway). The fast progression of 5e Sneak Attack damage means this would be way too powerful. So instead, make it only work when you can maneuver an enemy in between the fighter and cleric, or whatever.
But in in-game terms, it could lead to some really weird abuses.
SO without further ado, here are some time-honored and highly genre-appropriate ways for YOUR thug rogue to get in a Sneak Attack!
1. FRIENDS ARE CHEAP.
Thug tactics are perfect for snipers, because it is, of course, a well-known fact that it's much easier to damage an enemy from long range when they're surrounded by your allies.
It's also a well-known fact that the average peasant subsists on about 4 copper pieces and a shiny pebble per year.
Since you regularly spend 100 times that amount on luxuries like a pot of ink, imagine how "friendly" a couple peasants would be if you gave them each a shiny gold piece! I bet they'd follow you around and helpfully stand right next to your enemies while you shoot them (the enemies, or I guess the peasants if you felt like it) in the face with a shortbow from a comfortably concealed sniper's nest 60 feet away!
2. THE PIRATE THEOREM
But really, human NPCs are still a lot more expensive than some of the alternatives. I mean, what counts as a "creature friendly to you?" The wizard's familiar? Your pet chihuaha?
It kind of makes sense that pirates keep parates on their shoulders now, doesn't it? That way each pirate/parrot combo counts as two "friendly creatures" for their thug-rogue buddies!
3. SELF-LOVE
You know who I'm really friendly with? Me. If you don't consider yourself a "creature friendly to you," well, Buster, I'm thinking maybe you need some affirmation therapy before you're ready for that big scary dungeon. Learn to love yourself, and reap the benefits! ("Benefit" comes from the Latin for "viscera.")
4. THE STAPLED PARROT COROLLARY
So at this point, we've realized that every melee rogue starts with one "friendly creature" adjacent to the enemy (himself). So at this point, who needs the pirate? Just staple your pet parrot to your own shoulder (while he's not paying attention, to avoid "unfriendliness") and you and your parrot buddy can Sneak Attack everyone in sight!
Would any DM allow this crap? I'm guessing "no" to #4 , but "yes" to #1 , and a solid "maybe" to #2 and #3 . And of course there are plenty of NON-abusive ways for some thugs to get sneak attacks almost all the time, and others almost never. (A party with 6 fighters vs. a party with a wizard and an archer, for example.) So I think honestly this mechanic will need reworking.
In the meantime, though, how do YOU get in your sneak attacks?
P.S.: On a related topic... a halfling thief-rogue is 3 feet tall, weighs 40 pounds, and can hide behind something a quarter of that size, so hang on to that pet chihuahua!
[quote="Classes" Playtest Document]
Thug Tactics: ... You have an additional way to deal Sneak Attack damage to a creature, besides having advantage against it; you can deal Sneak Attack damage to a target that is within the reach of two or more creatures that are friendly to you.
[/quote]
Mechanically, you can see how they got here. They want to allow for a rogue that relies on positioning and teamwork rather than hiding to get in his high-damage attacks. But 3e-style flanking with one ally lets you Sneak Attack almost every round (until the tank dies, at which point you've got other problems on your mind anyway). The fast progression of 5e Sneak Attack damage means this would be way too powerful. So instead, make it only work when you can maneuver an enemy in between the fighter and cleric, or whatever.
But in in-game terms, it could lead to some really weird abuses.
SO without further ado, here are some time-honored and highly genre-appropriate ways for YOUR thug rogue to get in a Sneak Attack!
1. FRIENDS ARE CHEAP.
Thug tactics are perfect for snipers, because it is, of course, a well-known fact that it's much easier to damage an enemy from long range when they're surrounded by your allies.
It's also a well-known fact that the average peasant subsists on about 4 copper pieces and a shiny pebble per year.
Since you regularly spend 100 times that amount on luxuries like a pot of ink, imagine how "friendly" a couple peasants would be if you gave them each a shiny gold piece! I bet they'd follow you around and helpfully stand right next to your enemies while you shoot them (the enemies, or I guess the peasants if you felt like it) in the face with a shortbow from a comfortably concealed sniper's nest 60 feet away!
2. THE PIRATE THEOREM
But really, human NPCs are still a lot more expensive than some of the alternatives. I mean, what counts as a "creature friendly to you?" The wizard's familiar? Your pet chihuaha?
It kind of makes sense that pirates keep parates on their shoulders now, doesn't it? That way each pirate/parrot combo counts as two "friendly creatures" for their thug-rogue buddies!
3. SELF-LOVE
You know who I'm really friendly with? Me. If you don't consider yourself a "creature friendly to you," well, Buster, I'm thinking maybe you need some affirmation therapy before you're ready for that big scary dungeon. Learn to love yourself, and reap the benefits! ("Benefit" comes from the Latin for "viscera.")
4. THE STAPLED PARROT COROLLARY
So at this point, we've realized that every melee rogue starts with one "friendly creature" adjacent to the enemy (himself). So at this point, who needs the pirate? Just staple your pet parrot to your own shoulder (while he's not paying attention, to avoid "unfriendliness") and you and your parrot buddy can Sneak Attack everyone in sight!
Would any DM allow this crap? I'm guessing "no" to #4 , but "yes" to #1 , and a solid "maybe" to #2 and #3 . And of course there are plenty of NON-abusive ways for some thugs to get sneak attacks almost all the time, and others almost never. (A party with 6 fighters vs. a party with a wizard and an archer, for example.) So I think honestly this mechanic will need reworking.
In the meantime, though, how do YOU get in your sneak attacks?
P.S.: On a related topic... a halfling thief-rogue is 3 feet tall, weighs 40 pounds, and can hide behind something a quarter of that size, so hang on to that pet chihuahua!
